Process of preparing printing films



June'lB, 1933. fw. c. HUEBNER i PROCESS OFPREPARING PRINTING FILMS 1930 -2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed 001'.

3.. 1g. Y Ww. m n AEE MSS:

w. c. HUEBNER 1,914,126

Filed 00u16, 1930 2 sheets-sheet 2 PROCESS OF PREPARING PRINTING. FILMS June 13, 1933.

Patented .lunev 1.3, .1933.'

WILLIAH C. HUEBNEB, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 'Pnocnss orfrnnraamo PRINTING Finns .application led october 18, 1930. Serial' No. 489,093.

This invention relates to improvements in process of preparing printin films.

In the use of press plates or photo-lithographic printing, it is highly desirable that the entire available area of the press plate be utilized in order that the time and labor` of make-ready of the press and the time and labor involved in the preparationl of the plate itself, be kept at a minimum.- In certain classes of printing, the sizeof the subject or image to be printed is relativel small, as for instance, in the case of -labe s for canned goods, box covers and the like. In the case of such prints, the quantities involved are enerally not suficient to warrant utilizing t 'eentire area of the cpress plate for multiple or duplicated repro uctions of such small sized prints because -the run of the plate and printing ress would be tooshort for economical pro uction. It 'is for this reason, therefore, that, when small prints such as labels and box covers and the like are to be rinted a number of different subjects vor i ages are used on the press plate to fill the entire area v'thereof so that long runs can be made, thus reducing the number of press plates to be developed and the time and labor of make-ready on the press.' -f

Further, many .printing establishments utilize what are known as photo composers or photographic printin machines in pre,- p'aring the press plates, iat is, in transferring photographically from suitable negatives, the several subjects or images `that are to be printed. Such photo composing or photographic printing machine equipment is comparatively expensive and it is highly desirable from an economical standpoint that the same be kept in constant use as far as possible. In conjunction with such photo composing machines, it is necessary to use registering devices or machines that" ispapparatus suitable for accurately locating and positioning the various negatives or printin platesin their respective holders, whic holders 'are latervused on the photo composing machine proper to photograph the imagesor subjects onto the press plate. Where a large numberof small subjects'or images areto be reproduced, each requiringmount.-

ing of the,v corresponding negative in a separate holder, it is desirablegfrom an economical standpoint, that the registration of the negatives in their respective holders be done suicientl in advance of the use of the holders in the pii7 oto composing machine as to prevent`4 any delay in thephotographing process and consequently, for efficient production, a large number of holders are desirable. With many printing jobs; particularly labels for canned,

goods and the like, it has also been found that a quantity of labels will be required, part of which will differ only slightly from others, as for instance, labels put outby a' single firm, for a line of canned goods, such as apples, pears and peaches will be the same in major part but will 'differ as to the illustration` of the particular fruit with which the label is used and a corresponding slight 'change inreading matter on the label. Much difliculty and expense has heretofore been encountered in preparing printing filmsn or plates and obtaining laccurate register thereof, in work of the type indicated. One object of my invention, therefore, 1s to provide a labor and time saving process of preparing printing films and more particu'larlyA printing films which are of them-v selves composed or-built up by combiningportions from different subjects or originals.

Another object is to providea process of the character indicated in the preceding paragraph, 'which is particularly adapted for small size Isubjects or images such as labels for canned goods, boxcovers and the like, where a quantity is required, a part of which ma differ only slightly from others, but eac of whichl necessitates the preparationof a printing film incor orating the differences or changes one over t e other.

VA further object of the invention is to provide a process of the type hereinbefore indi# cated, wherein a number of composed printing films or negatives may be obtained corre; sponding to the several color separations with accurate registry, without the necessity of the' usual register marks on theoriginals or im ressions or any of the component parts entering into the ultimate composed printing film or negative.

printing machine with which t 40 or table 111.

a specification, I have illustrated suitable apparatus for carrying out my improved process. In said drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a suitabley support having register means co-ordinated with the hotographic he films to be made up are adapted to be used. Figure 2 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view correspondin to the line2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a oriz'ontal, detailed, sectional view corresponding to the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

FigureV 4: 1s a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner of building u or composing a film for printing a label. Figure 5 is a sectional view, corresponding to the line 5-5 of Figure 4, the scale being appreciably enl larged in order to more clearly 11lustrate cer tain features of the process. Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4, illustrating the'condition of the film after certain additional steps have been taken. And Figure 7 is a secj ional' view corresponding to the line 7-7 f Figure 1, upon an enlarged scale.

In carrying outmny invention, I preferably use a frame having a glass table or supao ort, the same comprisinga rectangular open rame roper 10 having, near the four corwardly from the inner edges 12 of the opena5 ing in the frame proper 10. Disposed within the rectan lar space defined by the four corner sets o flan es 11-11, is a secondary open rectangular rame 13 to `which is secured, by an` suitable means, a glass plate he frame 13 is preferably provided with reinforcing blocks 15 at its inner fxcoers, through each of which are threaded two adjusting bolts or screws 16-16, ar-

ranged at ri ht angles to each other and the` e5 ends of whic are adapted toengage the corresponding angular corner lug 1v1-11 so that, as will be evident from Figures 1 and 3,*the frame 13 with its glass ytable 14 may be adjusted vertically and horizontally, as

viewed in Figure 1, and retained in any desired adjusted position by setting the adl, justing screws or bolts 16;16. y Preferably also the frame 13 is adapted for vertical ad'ustment by four corner adjusting screws or olts 17 that are threaded up through the main frame 10 and engage the corners of the frame 1,3, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. .The

reason for the vertical adjustment is toy bring the `top surface of the glass 14 at the 00 desired heivht, corresponding to the film frames' and films carried thereby, hereinafter referre The /frame 10 is provided with register.

ing devices similar to and co-ordinatedv with e5 those on the photo composer or photographic of the main frame 10.

printing machine in connection with which my process is adapted to be carried out. In the instance shown, 'these register means comprise two dowel ins 18-18 accurately positioned and located) on two opposite'sides In carrying out my improved process, I preferably use film frames of the type dis-f closed in myco-pending applicatiomSeriaI No. 488,012, filed November 11, 1930, now

raient 1,860,389, granted May ai, 1932. A section of one of these is indicated in Figure 2, wherein the film holdercomprises a yrectangular frame 19 on which are slidably mounted on each side thereof, a plurality of filmattaching, preferably wood, blocks 20,

Ithe latter being adjusted inwardly and outwardly toward the center opening of the frame 19 by adjusting screws 21 having swiveled connection with metal^carriers 22, whichA in turn are attached to the blocks 2G. The

film 23 is secured around all of its edges l placed `on the table 10 over the dowel pins18, ners t ereof, upstandlng rlght' angular v llt'will be provided with two fine lines 1264 `and 127 inscribed thereon, which two lines will be exactly at right angles to each other and intersect at the center of the, glass table 14. To register lsaid lines 26 and 27 as to position and location with reference to the dowel pinsk 18, I first take a film holder, such as shown. having a film attached thereto and place it on' the photo composing or photographic printing machine in known positionl and location, it being understood that said machine will have dowel pins corresponding to those referenced 18 in the drawing. The holder with its film is then placed against a press plate in the machine, which has first had inscribed thereon two travellnes corresponding to the horizontal and vertical movements ofthe parts of such machine. Preferably, said two inscribed travel lines will intersect at the middle of each of the horizontal and vertical travel lines of the machine and the point of intersection of said scribed lines will also be the center of rotation so that the exposures mayy be accurately made as to position as well as location, in either head up, head down, head right or head left, as may be required by the particular job. With the film placed against los - into the film, two of said holes coinciding with one of the' travel lines and the other two with the other travel line, said four holes thus determining two imaginary lines on the .film

lines of the photographic printing machine.

The film holder with its punched or pricked film is then placed on the frame 10, as shown in Figure 2', vthe film lying onv the glasstable 14. The latterr is then suitably adjusted until its two lines 126 and 127 are brought into exact re ister with-the respective four holes of the lm. When this has been accom- 'plished, the position and location of the glass table 14 is then fixed by setting the screws 16, whereupon, the two -lines 126 and 127 will have beenaccurately co-ordinatedwwith referencevto the dowel pins'18and the travel lines of the photographic printing machine with which the films made by my improved process are to be used. The-film hold-er is then removed.

. After the' glass `table 14 has thus beenplaced in registered position, I paste thereon in as nearly centered position as possible, the original sketch,"subject, image, label ,or box cover, which it is desired to have reprdduced by printing. Such image, subject, label o r the like'will be pasted so that the oint of incenter of such subject or image. Said pasted image, subject, label-or the like may now be termed the key to be used in carrying out I the rest of the process. Next, I take a film holder with a plan film secured thereto, such as illustrated in Fi ure v 2, of the drawings, and mount said film ho der -on the frame l0r in registered position by meansof the dowel pins lcand dowel pin holes 125. The film holder, just referred to, may be the same liolder as that previously mentioned`^or asimilar holder and the film may be t e one previously used with the punch marks, although preferabl the film will be a new unperforated film. ecauseof thetransparency of the film, it is evident that the key will b e readily' visible therethrough. Assuming that the key or original, the prints'offwhich are to be reproduced, is a composed original or key such as a label for canned goods, the same vmay comprise the greater part of a label theretofore used with a picture of an apple ,inserted therein and an 5 insert of reading' matter corresponding to the .apple contents. With the film in place as just above described, an impression taken from the original stone or plate of the main label proper will be looselyK pasted down on 9 the film, as indicated at 25 in Figure 4.7, This impression will be taken on a specially prepared thin aper and before loosely pasting it downfwillp be registered accurately with the key carried b the glass table 14the registra.-

tion being e ected by sighting through the correspondingr exactly with the two travel tersection of the lines 126 and 12 will coindimensions and contour.

impression onto `the key. When so re'lsl; tered, it will ybe lightly pasted on the at suitable spaced points. Next, a similar impression from'the original stone or plate having the desired picture of anl apple to be incorporated in lthe film, will be loosely pasted over the impression 25,' as indicated at 26, the apple or other image on such secondary/impression being in turn registered through the impression 25 with the corre- 75 sponding apple or other image on the ke or original carried by the glass table 14. Sunilar l, a corresponding lmpression 27 of the chan ed or di rent reading matter will be loose y pasted over the impression 25, as inr so dicated vin Figure '4, said reading matter or other corresponding image being registered through the large impression 25 with the key carried by the glass table 14.` In pasting the f is shown in section at 28 pasted on the glass table 14, I insert between theimpression 25 `and film 23 a suitabie sheet 29, preferably fairly heavy'celluloid. Thereupon, as with asharp razor or other suitable cutter, I cut around the outlines of the apple 30 and. printed matter proper 31, cuttlng them out of the corresponding impressions 26and 27' andv simultaneously cut out from the main impression and immediately therebeneath corresponding outlines of exactly the same The cutouts so made in the main impression 25 the Celluloid strip 29V preventing injury to thevfilm 23) are then removed and the correspondingv cutouts of the apple andv printed matter 30-31 are their substituted in the corres ondin openings left in the impression25, t vis con ition o the film being bestpindivcated in Figure l?, where the ap le cutout is indicated at 130 and lthefprinte matter cutout at 131. The undesired portionsof'the impressions 26 and 27 are then removed and also the celluloid strip or sheet 29, whereupon the main impression 25 and the cutouts 130and 131 of the subordinate or secondary impressions are firml pasted` down on thef film 23 to the condition illustrated in Figure 7. As will be evident, a composed nega'- tive or printing film has thus been built up,

all component parts ofawhich, including the inserts, are in exact registry with the key 'or original subject or label, or the like, that'is carried b the glass table'14. Not only is the compose registered with the key, but the 4position and Alocation of the composed impression on the film `has a predetermined position and locaimpression von the' film 23 thus tion with reference to the register devices ,136i

18-18 and consequently with the corresponding register devices of the photo composing machine proper. The film holder with its composed impression may then be used on the photo composing or photographic printing machine and accurate register obtained.

'llhe process so far described is applicable to either black and white work or for one color separation. lf a number of color separations are to be employed for the same subject, image or label, the set of im ressions applied to the film, `as above descri ed, will be for onecolor only. A similar procedure will be followed on diderent films carried by similar holders, the composing and registration being effected in identically the same manner and always working from'the same original key carried by the glass table it. ln this manner, a series of color separation coinposed printing films may be readily and quickly prepared, all being in predetermined, known-registered position and location and all adapted to be used on the photographic printing machine. llt will further be observed that in the carrying out of my process, as above describedJ-none of the usual register marks are required, so that the composed films may be made by taking impressions from old stones or plates, whether or not the same havev any register marks, such as customarily used in work onphotographic printing machines.

in the preceding description, the composed printing film has been described as made up from a series or plurality of impressions on specially prepared paper. lln certain classes p of work, the ke securedto the table may corresponding with the be inthe form o a sketch wherein a part-of the image or subject consists of half-tone, another portion stippled, vanother portion crayon lined, a border all of one color, another portion of one color within the confines of which may be black or other dderent color. ln such cases, the same improve process is still used and accurate register obltained on the printing lms. With the film in a holder and `mounted in registered posi` i I paring acomposed printing film which includes: placing in predetermined position on tion as previously described, theoperator ma apply directly on the film a cutout of hal tone to be positioned accurately over the corres onding portion of the key sketch. Similar y the stippling and crayon lines may he applied directly by hand to the film in exactly superposed position over the corresponding portions of the key sketch; an opaque pigment applied directly to the printing film order portion of the key sketch; an opaquepigment applied directly to the printing nlm corresponding to the color patches or proposed color patches of the key sketch; and the lettering applied within the confines of the color portions all in exact position and location corresponding to the original key sketch. The features in this paragraph described may also be comapproximately 75% Inmate@ been described with reference to certain specific conditions commonly arising in the trade but, as will be obvious, the steps of the processareequally applicable to other specific conditions and particularly. with small size work. The process is simple, easily and'quickly carried out, permits of the making up of al numberof different subjects all to be printed from the same press plate and insures accurate registration whether the printing be done in one or more colors. Among other very important advantages is the one that my improved process eliminates the necessity of attempting to register on the usual registering machine each of the several Y component paitsof the composed printing film, this feature alone involving a saving of of the `time heretofore re uired in doing similar work.

he process herein described has been with particular reference to so-called photo com.- posin or photographic printing machines, wherein pressure and light action are used. My process, however, may be employed in the making up or composing of printing films of i vother types where the desired transfers of the images or subjects from the printing film to the press plateare made otherwise Athan photographically.

l have herein described what now consider the preferred manner of carrying out the invention, but I am aware that various changes and modifications may be made with/- out departing from the spirit ofthe invention and all such changes and modifications are d contemplated as come within the-scope of the claims appended hereto. ll claim:

l. The herein described. process of preasuppo'rt, a copy of the subject to be reproduced; su erimposing a film over said subject copy whi e the film`is attached to a holder retained in1 predetermined position and location with respectv to the subject copy; applying to the film an impressionv of the subjectv and registering it thereon by accurately superimposing it over the subjecticopy.

The herein described process of prepar- I ing a composed printing film which includes: placing in predetermined position on a support, a copy of the subject to be reproduced; superimposing a film over said subject'copy while the film is attached to a holder retained in predetermined position and location with respect to thesubject copy;

applying to ther 1'30 film an impression of the major part of the subject and registering it thereon by accurately superimposing it over theqsubject copy;

loosely temporarily securing the subject impreion to the film; loosely temporarily securing in place over the subject impression,

a subordinate impression and registering it with respect to the subject copy; then cutting out from the subject impression so much thereof as corresponds in size and location to the subordinate impression; then permanently securing the subject impression and the subordinate impression to the film. Y

3. The herein described process of prepar- 16 ing a composed printing film which includes:

placing in predetermined position on a su port, acopy of the subject to be reproduce superimposing a film over Isaid subject copy while the film isattached to a holder retained 20 in predeterminedposition and location with respect to the subject copy; applying to the film an impression of the major part of the subject and registering it thereon by accurately superimposingit over the subject copy; temporarily securing the subject impression to the film; temporarily securing in place on the subject impression, a plurality of subordinate impressions and registering the same with respect to the corresponding portions of the subject copy; then making duplicate cutouts in the subject and subordinate impressions and replacing the cutouts from the subject impression with the corresponding cutouts from the subordinate impressions; and finally permanently securing the subject impression and subordinate cut-4 out impressions to the film.

4. The herein described process of preparing aN composed printing film which includes: placing in predetermined position on a support, a copy of the subject to be frep-gduced; superimposing a film over said subject copy while the film is attached to a holder retained in predetermined position and location with respect to the subject copy; applying to the film an `impression of the major part of the subject and registering it thereon by accurately superimposing it over 1 the subject cop temporarily# securing the 50 subject impression to the film; temporarily securing in place overy the subject impression a subordinate impression andregistering the o latter with respect to the corresponding portion of the subject copy; inserting a shield between said subject impression and the film, making corresponding l'duplicate cutouts in the subject and subordinate impressions and replacing' the cutout of the 'subject impres- ,v

sion by the corresponding cutout of the sube ordinate i pression; removing the shield;

andperman ntly seciiring'the subjectimpression and su rdinate cutout impression to thefilm. y j

5. The herein described process of prepar- 55 ing a composed printing filmkwhich includes:

placing in predetermined position on a support, a copy of the subject to be re roduced; superimposing a film over said subject copy while the film is attached to a'holde'r retained in predetermined position and location with respect to the .subject copy; applying tothe respect to the corresponding portions of the` 'subject copy; insertin a shield between the subject impression an the film; makin duplicate cutouts in the subordinate and su ject impressions; removing the shield and the cutouts of the subject impression; and then substituting the cutouts 'of the subordinate impressions for the correspbnding cutouts of the subject impression and permanently securing the .impressions-to' the film.

6. The herein described process of preparl lng a composed printing film which includes:

placing in a predetermined position yon asupport, a copy of the subject to be reproduced; superimposing'a'film over said sub'ect copy while the lm is attached to a ho der retained in predetermined position and location with respect to the subject cop l; applying to the film an impression of t e major part of the subject and registering it thereon by accurately superimposing it over the subject copy; temporarily securing said major impression in said registered position; tem- 'porarily securing in place over said major `impression, a subordinate impression and' registering it by superimposing it over the corresponding portion of'the subject copy; then cutting out from/the major and subordinate impressions duplicates 4of the desired portion of the subordinate impression; replacing the cutout of the major impression by the cutout' of the subordinate impression; and finally permanently securing the sions to the film.

7.. The herein described process of 'prepar-` ing a. color series of corres ondingcompose'd printing films which inclu es: placing 1n predetermined ,position on a support, a copy of the subject to be reproduced; superimposing a film over said subject copy while thelm is attached to a holder retained .in predetermined position and locationwith respect to the subject copy; temporarily applyin to .the-film one color separation impression o the major part of the subject and registering it with the subject' by accurate superposing; similarly/temporarily securing and registering a like color separation subordinate im-p pression over said major impression; makin een retained impresrne duplicate cutouts in the major and subordil nate impressions corresponding to the desired portion of the subordinate impression; re-

placing the cutout of the major impression by the cutout of the subordinateimpression; permanently securing said impressions to the lm; and similarly preparing each other desired color separation printing film by utilizing the same subject copy.

the major impression by 8. rll`he herein described process of preparing a color series of printing films which includes: placing in predetermined position on a support a copy of the subject to be reproduced; superimposing a film over said subject copy While the ilm is attached to a holder retained in predetermined position and location with respect to the subject copy; applying to the film. one color impression of the subject and registering it with the subject by accurate superimposmg; securing said impression to the ilm; and preparing the remaining color printing films similarly by using the same subject copy.

9. rlhe herein described process of pre aring a-color series of composed printing ms which includes: placing in predetermined position on a support, a copy of the subject to be reproduced; superimposing'a ilm over said subject copy While the tilm is attached to a holder retained in predetermined position and location with respect to the subject copy; applying to sion of the major part of the"l subject an accurately superimposing said impression over the subject copy and temporarily securing the impression to the film; superimposing and loosely securing on said major impression and accurately superposed over the subject copy one or more like color subordinate impressions; making duplicate cutouts yfrom the major and subordinate impressions yof the desired portions of the subordinate impressions; replacing t ose of the' subordinate impressions and'l then permanently securing the retained .impressions to the lm; and similarly preparing the remaining printing -iilms ci the color series by registering with the same subject copy. 10. The herein described process of preparmg acomposed printing film which includes: securing on la support having registering means, a key subject to be reproduced; attaching a film to a film holder having cooperable corresponding register means; assembling said holder with said support in register therewith and with the film over the Akey subject; ap lying to said film a major lm'pression' of t e key subject, theirnpres-vl sion being directly superposed over the key subject; applying to said impression a subordinate impression directly superposed over the corresponding portion of the' key subject; and replacing a' portion of said major impression by the corresponding desired portion of the subordinate impression. f

11. The herein described process of preparing a colorl series ot printing films which the ilm one color impresthe cutouts Vot Lerares includes: mounting a key subject .on a dat support with which is associated registering means; attaching a ilm to a holder having cooperable register means and assembling the holder with said support in registered position with respect thereto and with the film over the key subject; applying to said film directly superposed over the key subject, one color impression of the key subj ect; and similarly preparing the remaining lms of the color series'by use of said key subject.

l2. The herein described process of preparing a color series of composed printing films which includesapasting a key subject `ou a. dat support having register means associated therewith; attaching a ilm to a holder havingy cooperable register means and then assembling said holder with the support with the tilm oven the key subject; temporarily applying to said lm directly superposed over the key subject, a color im ression of the major portion of the key su ject; temporarily securing over the major impression a like color subordinate impression and directly superposed over the corresponding portion of the key subject; cutting out of said major impression a portion corresponding to the desired .subordinate impression and substituting the latter for the cutout of the major impression; securing the retained impressions to the hlm; and similarly preparing the remainingiilms ot the color series by use ot the same given subject.

13. The herein described process ci reparing a printing iilm which includes: p acmg in predetermined position on 'a support,

ya key having diderently characterized areas to be reproduced; superimposing a film over and in contact with said key while the film is attached to a removable holder retained in predetermined position and location with respect to the key; applying tothe upper slde of the lilm ed'ect-producing media corresponding to and directly superposed over the respective diderently characterized areas of the key, whereby said holder and attached lm may be used in a printing machine.

14. The herein described process of paring a color series of printing films vv ich Includes: securing, on a'at support, having register means associated therewith, a key having dierently characterized areas; attaching a film to a separate holder having cooperable register means and then assemblingsaid holder with the support with the ilm over and in contact with the key; applying to the upper side of the lm one color edectproducing media corresponding to and directly superposed over the respectivo diderently characterized areas of the key; and simz ilarly preparing the remaining films of the A color series from the same key.

l5. 'll'he herein described process of prepallilnA a composed printing element which inclu es: securing on a support having registering means, akey subject to be reproduced by printing; attaching to a printmg-v element holder having coperable corres ondin re isterin means a trans arent printing element; assembling said holder` with its printing element attached thereto,

with said support' in register therewith and with the transparent printing element super.- imposed overthe key subject; and applying to the upper surface 'of the transparent printing,r element impressions corresponding to different portions of the key subject, each said portion being applied to the printing-V element surface in position and locatlon registered directly over the corresponding portions of the key subject. l

In witness that I claim the foregoingI have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th day of September, 1930.

WILLIAM C. HUEBNER. 

